Arua Campus cultural gala postponement

BY AGATHA MUHAISE

The Uganda Christian University Arua Campus cultural gala was last week unexpectedly postponed due to poor planning on the side of the guild government.

The event, originally set for November 13, was moved a day ahead at the last minute. Mungusi Tubali, the acting guild secretary and minister of agriculture and environment, informed The Standard that the gala being the first of its kind, the guild met a number of glitches in the planning process.

“The budget was drawn on time but the process of approving the funds took a bit longer than expected. However, even the cultural groups asked for more time to prepare adequately for the event,” he said.

Rev Denis Ruhama Onzima, the dean of students, clarified that the funds were readily available but the changes that were to be made on the budget were not done in time.

“I also received information that some of the organizers were set to have papers on the day. Be that as it may, the cultural gala is set to take place on November 19,” Ruhama said.

The event will feature performances from the Lugbara, Alur, Madi and Kakwa. The performers will be competing in music, dance, drama and cultural exhibitions like food, tools and cultural wear.

Early this month Vilma Achieng was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the National Basketball League playoffs after leading her side to winning the title.
She also won the best rebounder, top scorer and best centre in the Zone V Club championship where the team won bronze.
Achieng was born on 23, 1993, in Siayi County, western Kenya, to the late Joseph Owino and Rose Akinyi.
She went to Wera Primary School from 1998 to 2007 before joining Raliew Secondary School for her O-level from 2008-2011.
She previously played volleyball and football before she decided to concentrate on basketball.

Joining Lady Canons
Uganda Christian University (UCU) administration, with the help of an old friend and former Canons player, Robert Mugabe, advised her to join the Lady Canons despite her having wished to play aboard. She accepted the offer.
“While on the team, I began improving as a player each day and built a lot of personal confidence,” she said of her acceptance.

Awards
In 2015, Achieng was named the MVP in that season’s National Basketball League. After consulting teammates, Coach Nicholas Natuhereza made her captain.
In 2014, she had also been voted the league’s top scorer and best rebounder. under her leadership, Lady Canons have managed to win the championship for three years in a
row (2015-2017).
Emmanuel Kiguyi, the Lady Canons tactician, says Achieng is an amazingly gifted
sportsperson who has grown as a player and leader in the past few seasons.
“I think she has finally become comfortable and confident in her role as a team leader and I am confident there is more to come from her,” he says.
on any given night, he says, she is capable of being the most dominant force in Uganda women basketball if she puts her mind to it and this is the next challenge she has to take on.
She was impressed for having won the MVP but is now focusing on the new challenge ahead, she said, when contacted.

Academics and sports
She says advanced preparations help her to balance the two.
Despite having many other achievements, Achieng who is on a full sports scholarship plans to play professional basketball outside the region.
She is a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education.